I am hearing talk about formal wear and such, but does it matter what you wear during the day when you're hanging around the boat? Some people talk about wearing nice polo shirts and such. When imagining the ship, I've always pictured people walking around with bathing suits with clothes over it or something, you know? Tee shirts and stuff. Is it more appropriate to wear something a little more than tee shirts and shorts?

Standard day wear is usually shorts and a t-shirt or other top. Or Swimsuit and cover up.

My standard day wear is swimsuit or shorts and a t-shirt.

Some folks do wear a polo shirt and pants and shorts but that is up to them.

A cover up for women and a shirt for men is required in the buffet. However, on my last Carnival cruise I noticed a lot of people in bathing suits and no shirt or bikinis in the buffet. I guess they weren't enforcing the rules.

Dress how you feel comfortable. "Within reason."

Take care,
Mike

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Standard day wear is usually shorts and a t-shirt or other top. Or Swimsuit and cover up.

My standard day wear is swimsuit or shorts and a t-shirt.

Some folks do wear a polo shirt and pants and shorts but that is up to them.

A cover up for women and a shirt for men is required in the buffet. However, on my last Carnival cruise I noticed a lot of people in bathing suits and no shirt or bikinis in the buffet. I guess they weren't enforcing the rules.

Dress how you feel comfortable. "Within reason."

Take care,
Mike

Wearing no shirt in the buffet thats just disgusting! Whats the matter with some people?

Showing up in a bathrobe in the buffet (or any dining venue) is totally tacky and out of place. I've seen it quite often and it's usually Europeans. Maybe it's acceptable in Europe Never done a Med. cruise so don't know.
If you want to eat in your bathrobe, then get room service!

I am hearing talk about formal wear and such, but does it matter what you wear during the day when you're hanging around the boat? Some people talk about wearing nice polo shirts and such. When imagining the ship, I've always pictured people walking around with bathing suits with clothes over it or something, you know? Tee shirts and stuff. Is it more appropriate to wear something a little more than tee shirts and shorts?

Shipboard dress tends to vary from cruise line to cruise line and from destination to destination, but I can state a few general guidelines.

>> 1. Shorts and "T" shirts are generally acceptable for daytime wear. However, gents generally must wear shirts with collars on "casual' (or "smart casual") evenings. Polo or golf shirts offer the advantage of being acceptable at the "casual" evenings while still being casual enough to wear over a swimsuit or with shorts.

>> 2. Bathing suits are generally acceptable only in and around the pool areas. Most cruise lines state that they require some sort of cover-up over a bathing suit in the buffet restuarant located near to the pool area. To what extent they enforce this is another matter. Also, this does not apply to the grill and beverage stations located within the pool area.

>> 3. Some cruise lines forbid bluejeans and/or wearing of baseball caps in the main dining room, even at breakfast and lunch.

On cruises to warm climates, I tend to wear polo shirts with shorts (over a bathing suit when I'm going to or from the pool) during the day, as this minimizes the amount of clothing that I have to pack.

I pack the whole range of clothing options and wear what's appropriate for the occasion, which can really vary, but is almost always pretty obvious. I'm not one to say "it's my vacation, I'll wear a T'shirt in the MDR if I want to". Don't understand people who make their own rules. I personally feel like a real rube if I accidentally show up in the wrong garb, so I can understand where the original question is coming from...

The real deal for me, is I'll wear a t-shirt around the ship, but it's one of my nicer ones, not my lucky softball T that doesn't fit too well anymore, and has holes in it and the big stain on the front. I always pack my nicer, crisper, newer polos, not the ratty old faded ones that are REALLY broken in. Same with my touristy tropical shirts. Before I cruise I check my suits and dress shirts and make a trip to the dry cleaner if needed.

It may sound like it, but I'm really not a clothes snob, and I dress pretty "comfortable" at home. My office is even very casual, and in the summer you'll usually find me in shorts and a golf shirt. I'm pretty much a "Good ol' boy" from Texas. That being said, to me a cruise is a special, festive occasion, and I try to put my best foot forward, whether I'm in a swim suit by the pool, or having dinner on a formal night. I steer away from my collection of 'wife beater' sleeveless Ts, speedos, and anything that's seen better days and looks ready to go in the goodwill box.

I would just like to add that if you are cruising in a warm climate, it is usually freezing down on the Promanade deck. If you are planning on going back and forth between indoor and outdoor, bring a sweater with you. This definitely applies at night, too.

I mean I just wear my thongs (you know flip flops), some shorts or swimsuit and a shirt. If I'm not going to be running around on deck then it is usually a polo shirt and shorts. The DW goes for sundresses or a coverup over a swim suit.